Council of War (68 page)

"The next street is similar to this one," he reported. "No one is around."

A few minutes later the fairies returned.

"We found her!" report Bitsy.

"She is bound and gagged," added Twerp.

"And there are four soldiers guarding her," stated Button. "Two outside the building and two inside."

Garth turned and walked to an alleyway. Everyone followed.

"Show me, please," requested Garth.

“I will show you," chirped Twerp.

The fairy instantly created a vision of the run-down building. Two Federation soldiers stood outside the building, but not near the door, Instead they were lurking in the shadows where they could watch the door. The vision flew over one of the soldiers and in through a window. Zigzagging along a corridor it came to a door with two more soldiers standing outside it. The fairy dived for the floor and shot through a crack at the bottom of the door. As it rose up from the floor, Natia came into view. She was on a bed, bound and gagged. Her weapons were piled nearby on the floor. The vision faded, and Garth turned to face his fellow Knights.

"Let's do this the simple way. The fairies will put the soldiers to sleep. Tedi, you go in and get Natia and bring her back here. Karl, you and I will approach the building from both sides. We will do nothing unless something goes wrong. Kalina, you stay here and watch out for patrols. If any patrols come by, either warn us or cause a distraction to lead them away. Questions?"

"Let's go," Tedi said anxiously.

Everyone nodded and Garth sent the fairies on their way. Garth waited a few moments and then tapped Tedi on the shoulder. The gypsy prince headed down the deserted street.

Tedi did not look back to see if Garth and Karl would follow. He knew that they would be where they needed to be. When he reached the building, he saw the bodies of the two soldiers. He quietly mounted the short flight of steps and entered the building. Following the path the fairies had taken, he turned the corner to find two more bodies on the floor. He opened the door and saw Natia. His heart beat quickly as he raced across the room and slit the ropes. Natia's eyes opened wide in fear, but she recognized her husband, and her face was smiling when he removed the gag.

"I thought I would never see you again," she said as she leaped out of the bed and hugged Tedi.

"Talk later," he said softly. "The guards are only sleeping."

Natia broke the embrace and quickly grabbed her weapons and slid them into their sheathes. Together they raced back through the abandoned house and into the alley where Kalina was waiting. A few seconds later, Garth and Karl joined them.

"What happened?" asked Tedi.

"I was in a tavern talking to two old men," explained Natia. "I asked about my uncle, Captain Marez. I learned that the old man had been a smuggler. He is dead now, and he didn't have any brothers or sisters, but that is not what caused the trouble. The woman serving us overheard the conversation. When I left the tavern, I saw her with two soldiers. She pointed at me and they chased me. In trying to lose them, I ran into two other soldiers. Then my world went blank. I guess they hit me on the head. When I woke up, I was in that room, bound and gagged."

"Perhaps we should leave the city quickly," suggested Tedi. 'When they find out Natia has escaped, they will seal the city."

"I am not so sure," frowned Garth. "Something is not right here."

"What do you mean?" asked Tedi.

"Why take Natia to an abandoned building?" asked Garth. "Ur has dungeons aplenty. And why was she not interrogated immediately?"

"I was unconscious," replied Natia.

"How long have you been awake?" asked Garth.

"A while," admitted Natia, "but no one knew that. They haven't checked on me in hours."

"Exactly my point," countered Garth.

"What are you thinking?" asked Kalina.

"Natia was asking questions about Captain Marez," explained Garth. "She was captured and taken prisoner, but not by the Federation."

"They were Federation soldiers," retorted Tedi. "I saw them myself."

"I don't doubt you," Garth said defensively, "but they were not acting as soldiers would act. At least not like soldiers acting on official orders."

"You think Marez might be behind this?" asked Kalina.

"It is one possibility," nodded Garth. "There are others, but we need to find out for sure."

"And how are we going to do that?" asked Tedi.

"We are going to capture the serving woman and ask her a few questions of our own," stated Garth. "The soldiers back at that house are only sleeping, so we have to act quickly."

The Knights of Alcea made their plans and then headed back to the wharf area. They split up and Natia headed to the front door of the tavern she had visited earlier. She walked in and looked around the room. It was still crowded so she sat at the first table she came to. The men at the table looked her over. Some of them smiled at her and some of them ignored her. Natia paid no attention to any of them. Her eyes were locked on the doorway to the kitchen. Less than a minute later the serving woman came through the doorway carting four mugs of ale. Her eyes landed on Natia and she jumped back, the four mugs of ale falling to the floor. She turned and ran out the back door of the tavern and into the arms of Garth Shado. Karl gagged the woman as Garth lifted her and carried her over his shoulder. The two men ran down the alley and turned the corner.

Less than a block away, Kalina was waiting near an abandoned building. She held the door open and Garth carried his prisoner inside. Karl tied her to a chair, and Natia and Tedi arrived a moment later. Garth turned to Tedi and Karl.

"You two wait outside. Be inconspicuous, but warn us if anyone is coming near enough to hear her screams."

The prisoner's eyes grew wide with fear as the two warriors left the room. Garth nodded to Kalina, and the mage cast a shield of silence over Garth, Natia, the woman, and herself. Garth smiled in the knowledge that no one would hear any screams beside him, but he didn't want the woman to know that. He had no intention of torturing her, but letting her think that was an option was helpful. He reached over and untied her gag. She screamed. Garth smiled at her and waited for her to tire before speaking.

"There is no one around to help you," Garth said when he was sure that she would hear his words. "Why was this woman abducted?"

The woman gave up screaming, but fear was still clear in her eyes. She made no effort to reply.

"There are two ways for this to go," Garth threatened. "I am trying to be easy on you. Answer my questions, and I will set you free."

"Never," spat the woman. "You might as well kill me now. I will never tell you anything."

"I have no intention of killing you," replied Garth. "What I really want to know is where I can find Captain Marez. I think you know."

"What do you want him for?" asked the woman.

"I want to talk to him," answered Garth. "What is your name?"

"Althea," she answered. "What is your name?"

"I am asking the questions, Althea. Where is Captain Marez?"

The woman refused to answer. She pressed her lips tightly together as if that would stop the words from slipping out. Garth asked the question again, but he realized that the woman had enough courage to continue to refuse. He sighed heavily.

"Okay, I tried to be gentle with you." Garth turned towards Kalina. "Turn her into a frog."

Kalina grinned wickedly and snapped her fingers. A ball of light suddenly appeared floating in the air. She stepped closer to the prisoner, and the woman started shaking with fear.

"You're a mage?" she screamed. "No! Leave me alone!"

"Wait," interrupted Natia. "Let me try before you turn her into a frog."

The ball of light blinked out, and Natia moved close to the woman and knelt by her side.

"I am the one looking for Captain Marez. I only want to talk to him. I will not harm him. You had me kidnapped because you are trying to protect him, isn't that it?"

The woman nodded, but her eyes remained wide with fear.

"That's what I thought. I have a message to deliver to him. Having never met the captain, I was asking around to find him. Would you be willing to deliver the message for me?"

The woman nodded again and hope started to seep into her face.

"How do we know that she will really deliver the message?" asked Garth. "She may not deliver it. She may not even know him."

"I know him," the woman said quickly. "He is my brother. I will deliver the message. I promise. Let me go, and I will see that he gets the message personally."

"Your brother?" asked Natia. "Does he keep you in his confidence?"

"Yes," said Althea. "We are very close. I promise on my life that I will deliver your message."

"I believe you," smiled Natia as she started to cut the ropes. "The message is from Princess Jeanel."

"The princess?" frowned Althea. "You mean you are not from the Federation?"

Althea made no attempt to flee once the ropes were cut.

"Quite the opposite," replied Natia.

"I am so sorry for kidnapping you," Althea said sincerely. "I didn't know. Surely, you must understand what was going through my mind?"

"I think we do," smiled Kalina. "How is it you were able to command Federation soldiers?"

"They work for my brother," answered Althea.

"Have you heard of Alceans?" asked Garth with a trace of suspicion in his voice.

"They are the people from across the sea," nodded Althea. "They took the king to safety."

Garth smiled. He was now convinced of her story. "We are Alceans. We came to see your brother to get a status report for the king."

"What kind of status report do you need?" asked Althea.

Garth nodded to Natia to bring Karl and Tedi inside. "We need to know how many patriots he has been able to raise so far. Can you take us to him?"

"I can't," Althea sighed as her body stopped shaking, and she started to settle down. "He is on duty taking horses to Sebastian Pass. He won't be back for days."

"Who runs things while he is gone?" asked Kalina.

"I do," answered Althea. "So far we have four thousand fighters. Many of them wear the uniform of the Federation, but that is necessary. Anyone who was in the Tyronian army was expected to join the Federation army. While they didn't force you to join, you were highly suspect if you did not. My brother encouraged his men to join, but they will fight for King Myer when the time comes to stand up for Tyronia."

"I was hoping for five thousand," Garth frowned as Natia returned with Karl and Tedi.

"We may have that when he gets back," Althea replied. "He was hoping to talk with the men who were stationed in the south when the Federation arrived. If he gets one in three to join, you will have your five thousand."

"Is that likely?" asked Garth.

"Very," nodded Althea. "Tyronians have never liked the Federation. I don't see why they would start now. He could probably sign them all up, but we don't work that way. We only approach those who can be vouched for. Still, he will return with another thousand."

"Excellent," smiled Garth. "Althea, this is Karl Gree. He is a Knight of Alcea. We are leaving him in Tyronia to work with you and your brother. He will be able to get word to and from King Myer quickly. He can also help you in a number of other ways."

* * *

Sidney Mercado returned with the decanter of wine and filled the six glasses. He handed one to Queen Romani, and the Knights of Alcea each took one.

"A toast to a successful mission," offered the merchant. "I am probably the only person in Herinak that thought you could do it, but then I have learned to expect miracles from Alceans."

"It's not over yet," replied Garth. "We got the twenty thousand warriors Baron Stikman demanded, but I expect another barrier will rise up to muddy the waters."

"Like the Federation spy among King Wendal's people?" asked Queen Romani.

"Like that," Garth sighed and nodded. "We know that there is at least one. There may be more. Have you mentioned Major Pezzola yet?"

"No," replied the queen. "There has not been an occasion to, and I preferred to wait for your return. I fear that I have little experience in catching spies."

"We have to find him soon," stated Kalina. "Colonel Pfaff is on dangerous ground until we do."

"I think the opportunity will come quite soon," offered Sidney. "King Wendal has noted your return. He has scheduled a meeting for later today."

"That puts me in a difficult position," stated Garth. "I have the numbers for Baron Stikman, but he will not be happy with those alone. I don't blame him, but there is much I will not reveal until I am sure the spies are gone."

"Go talk to the king," suggested Queen Romani. "He is a reasonable man. Tell him your fears and see how he reacts."

"I will do that right now," agreed Garth as he rose to his feet.

Garth left Sidney's suite and made his way to the king's study. He requested a private audience, and he was shown in promptly.

"Welcome back to Herinak," greeted the king. "I have set up a meeting a couple of hours from now. If your presence in my office is about the results of your journey, we should wait and share it with everyone."

"It is about the journey," replied Garth, "but some things can not be shared at this time. I am hoping that this private talk will allow me to express things that will not be spoken of in the meeting."

"Oh?" frowned the king. "This is most unusual. I highly value the advice of my advisors. I do hope that you will not be requesting me to make a decision without their advice."

"I will be," replied Garth, "but let me explain first. I have returned with information from all over Zara. The information I have is very sensitive, and its spread could result in the deaths of many fine people. I have accomplished my task, but Baron Stikman is going to press me for particulars. I am not in a position to divulge those particulars."

"Why not?" asked the king. "Only my advisors will be present. Surely, you are not suggesting that one of them would carry word to the Federation?"